Weather integrator



' June 16, 1936. H. J. SMITH WEATHER INTEGRATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Illlll U lllllll 12 H IIHJ ATTORNEY June 16, 1 936.

H. J. SMITH WEATHER INTEGRATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1936 I UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 24, 1933, Serial No. 658,382

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a condition-responsive apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus responsive to the combined effect of a plurality of separate factors'of the condition.

The invention is particularly applicable to the control of a heat supply system in response to the various factors which determine the heat requirements, such as the outside temperature, wind velocity and sunlight.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a condition-responsive device which integrates the eflects of the various factors determining the condition.

Another object is to provide a weather inteating device.

A more specific object is to provide a control device responsive to outside temperaturemodified by the effects of sunlight and wind velocity on the heat requirements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sensitive, convenient and dependable apparatus of the type above indicated.

The invention also consists in certain new and original types of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features whichare believed.

to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in the various figures of which like referencgS characters have been used to designate like par In the drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the weather integrator; v

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the temperature-responsive element and the control switch;

Figure 4 is a detail and I Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings, the weather integrator is illustrated as comprising'a base l arrying a bracket II, which supports a temperature-review of the control switch;

sponsive device I2 and a control switch I 3 to be described. The base III also supports a housing I4, which is secured thereto in any suitable way, for example, by bolts I5, pivoted in lugs IS on the housing and cooperating with lugs I1 on the base III. The housing I4 is preferably formed of comparatively thick metal, which is capable of absorbing a substantial quantity of heat from the suns rays and of transferring the heat thus absorbed to the temperature-responsive device I2. An elongated tubular member I8 is threaded or otherwise secured to the housing I4 and car- 10 rles a bearing I9 on which a wind vane housing 20 is rotatably mounted. The housing 20 is formed at its rear end with a. vertical direction vane 2I and at its front end carries a shield 22 within which a wind-pressure vane 23 is pivoted, as by pivot 24. The wind-pressure vane extends normal to the plane of the direction vane 2|, whereby the vane 23 may be moved about the pivot 24 in response to the wind pressure on the surface thereof.

The vane 23 carries a lever 25, which is connected by a link 26 to a bell-crank lever 21 pivoted to the shield 22 by a pivot 30 and having an arm 28 engaging a plunger 29, which extends through the tubular member I8. The housing is provided with a hood 32 by which the bearing l9 and the interior of the housing l4 are protected from the elements. The wind-vane housing 20' is 'free to rotate on the member I8 so that the direction vane 2i can at all times maintain the 30.

wind-pressure vane 23 normal to the wind direction.

The base III may be supported by a bracket 33 having a bearing section 34 which is pivoted by a bolt 35 to a bearing section 36 of a second bracket 35 31 having a flange 38 adapted to be attached to a suitable support, such as the outside wall of a building (not shown). The brackets 33 and 31 may be pivotally adjusted. about the bolt 35 and clamped by a second bolt 39 extending through suitable apertures 40 in the bearing section 34. Referring to Figures 3-5, the control switch I3 is shown as including a switch plate 45, which is connected to the plunger 29 by means of a link 46 and a collar 41 having a set screw 48. The 45 plate 45 is pivoted by a bushing 49 about a pin 50, which is secured to the bracket I I. The plate 45 carries a set of hot contacts 5I-56 and a set of cold contacts 5'l-62, which are connected by suitable connecting means (not shown) to a mul- 50 tiple socket 63.

The plunger 29 at its lower end is connected to a dash pct 64, comprising a cylinder 65 and a piston 66, which is adapted to operate in oil or other suitable medium for damping purposes.

A spring 81 is anchored between a bracket 68, secured to the housing H, and a pin 89, carried by the plunger 29, and is adapted normally to maintain the plunger 29 in an elevated position but to permit said plunger to be depressed in response to movement of the wind-pressure vane 23 which is caused by wind pressure thereon.

The spring 61 which resists the downward movement of the plunger 29 is arranged to have a modulus approximately equal to the curve of added heat demand forwind velocity. This curve is a combined curve of low increase up to approximately 15 miles per hour and of rapid increase between approximately 15 and miles per hour, flattening out somewhat above this figure. The device is accordingly constructed to translate the wind velocity into motion of the switch plate according to this curve, and may have approximately 40 miles per hour wind velocity as the top limit.

The temperature-responsive device l2 comprises a housing in, which is mounted on the bracket H by suitable means, such as a .clamp 1i, and is sealed by a cap 12 which may snap into engagement therewith. An expansible metallic bellows 13, having a comparatively stiif cover I4 hermetically sealed thereto to form a variable pressure chamber, is mounted within the housing 10. A plunger 15 is rigidly secured to the cover 14 and extends through a bushing I8 carried by the cap 12. A second metallic bellows TI is seated in a recess 18 in the cover 14 and is secured between the cap '12 and the plunger 15 to form a glandless seal for the plunger. The bellows TI also serves, in conjunction with the cover 14 and the bellows 13, to form a hermetically sealed balancing chamber 19 within the housing 18 and external to the bellows I3.

The bellows i3 is preferably charged with a substance having a substantial change in vapor pressure within the temperature range involved in the operation of the device. The amount of the charge is preferably such that the vapor re mains saturated only throughout the operating range. inasmuch as the diflerential change in Vapor pressure 01' the saturated vapor with respect to temperature is greater than the differential change in gas pressure of the unsaturated vapor.

Various substances may be employed for this purpose, depending upon the operating range of the instrument. Methyl chloride has been found suitable for an outdoor thermostat. Isobutane, butane, ethyl chloride, sulphuric ether, carbon tetrachloride and alcohol are examples of other substances which may be used at appropriate operating ranges.

The relationship between the size, gas pressure and change of volume of the balancing chamber 18 is preferably such that the pressure-volume curve oi. the gas within the chamber follows the pressure-temperature curve of the substance within the bellows 13. Adjustment for this purpose may be made by varying the ratio of the maximum and minimum volumes of the chamber 18 in the selected operating range of the device. In one embodiment oi. theinvention, this is accomplished by introducing a quantity of a liquid, such as alcohol, into the chamber. The liquid decreases the effective volume of the chamber without changing the flexibility of the bellows and thereby increases the volume ratio of the chamber. By this means, the minimum volume may be adapted to any desired operating range.

-The liquid may be introduced by any suitable means (not shown). I

The arrangement is such that the internal pressure within the bellows 13 does not difier greatly from the internal pressure within the chamber 19. It is possible, therefore, to utilize a bellows of extreme sensitivity because of the relatively small pressure diflferential to which it is subjected. The bellows I3 may accordingly be formed with a comparatively thin wall and may be made much more flexible and sensitive than would be the case if it were exposed externally to the atmosphere. The bellows I1 is of small diameter and of comparatively great length and may accordingly be made to withstand the diflerence between the pressure in the chamber 19 and the pressure of the outside atmosphere without being unduly rigid.

With a gain in temperature, the pressure of the methyl chloride or other substance within the bellows l3 rises and the bellows expands to equalize this pressure against the pressure in the chamber 19, thereby producing a downward motion of the plunger 15. Upon a fall in temperature, the reverse action takes place.

The plunger I5 is connected to a lever 80, as by a pin 8| engaging the slot 8| in said lever.

The lever 88 is pivoted about an eccentric stud 82 on the pin 58 and carries a pair of contact members 83 and 84. A switch arm 85 is pivoted about the bushing 89 on the pin 58 and carries contact brushes 85 and 81 adapted to engage hot contacts 5|58 and cold contacts 5162 respectively. The brushes 86 and 81 are connected to conductors 88 and 89, which in turn are connected to contacts 98 and 9| respectively. Contacts 98 and 9| are adapted to engage the contacts 83 and 84 respectively of the lever to form a reversing switch.

It will be noted that movement of the plunger 15 causes pivotal .movement of the lever 88. thereby closing contacts 83 and 90 or contacts 84 and 8|, depending upon the direction of movement. After one of the above sets of contacts has been closed, further movement of the lever 88 causes pivotal movement of the arm and thereby-causes the brushes 88 and 81 to move over the hot and cold contacts carried on the plate 45. The eccentric mounting of the lever 88 with respect to the arm 85 produces a wiping action between the contacts 83 and 84 and the contacts 98 and 9| respectively, adapted to maintain the contacts in .clean condition.

In the embodiment'disclosed, the relationship between the parts is such that the plunger 15 is capable of a range of movement corresponding to a part only of the hot and cold contacts. The remaining hot and cold contacts are brought into operation by movement of the plate '45 caused by movement of the plunger 29 in response to wind pressure exerted upon the vane 23. It is obvious that the relationship between the movement of the plunger 15 and of the plunger 29 may be varied and the operating range of the instrument may be likewise varied. The operating range of the instrument may be adjusted by any suitable means such as, for example, by varying the position of the housing amiss perature variations in the surrounding medium-.- If, in addition, the device is so located that the housing It is exposed to the rays of the sun, radiant heat will be absorbed by said housing and transferred to the air within the housing, which is correspondingly heated and exerts an influence upon the action of the bellows 18. If the above-described mechanism is mounted on the outside of a building in such a position that.

the vane 23 is exposed to the wind and the housing i4 is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, it is evident that the combined effect of wind, outside temperature and sunlight will be integrated by the device and will determine the position of the brushes '6 and ll with respect to the hot 'and cold contacts 5|-58 and 51-42 respectively.

The hot and cold contacts constitute progressive switch means which, in connection with the reversing switch contacts, are adapted to be connected by the multiple socket 63 to a reversible motor-operated control means of any desired type, such, for example, as described in my copending application Serial No. 657,237, in which a motor-operated means assumes a position determined by the position of the brushes 88 and 81 with respect to their cooperating contacts. Obviously, the device may be used withany desired control which may be mechanically taken, for example, directly from the plungers 2.9 and I5. The switch mechanism is shown by way of illustration only.

In the operation'of the above-described mechanism, an increase in temperature causes bellows 13 to expand, thereby causing downward movement of the plunger II and clockwise movement of the lever 80. This-movement of the lever I first causes the contacts 83 and 90 to close and then, by the force exerted on the contact 90 by the contact 83, causes clockwise movement of the arm I! and thereby causes the brushes ll and 81 to progressively engage the corresponding sets of contacts 5|58 and 51-42 in the order named.

When the plate is in its normal position, corresponding to zero wind pressure on the vane 23, the brushes 88 and ll are adapted to engage the contacts 53-" and 5H2. Wind pressure on the vane 23, however, depresses the plunger 28 and thereby causes clockwise movement of the plate 45 and brings the contacts Ii and I2 and the contacts 51 and it within the operating range of the brushes 8 and IT.

The above-described device is responsive to the outside temperature alone on a windless night. When exposed to the sunlight, however, the direct rays of the sun raise the temperature of the housing is an amount determined by the difference between the absorbed radiant heat and the loss due to convection tothe surrounding air. The residual effect is passed to the air within the housing and causes the operation of the bellows II to be modified by an amount proportional to the heating effect of the sunlight. These two factors, together with the wind velocity, are thus integrated to provide a simple and accurate weather-responsive device which may be used, for example, in connection with a central heating plant supplying a plurality of buildings or supplying a large building, the diflerent parts of which are exposed to different weather conditions.

, 3 so as to meet the heat requirements of the day and to maintain a substantially constant inside temperature without changing the setting of the individual radiators.

' Although certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosedfor purposes of illustration, it is to be noted that the various parts thereof may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and that theinvention is only to be limited in accordance with the following claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A weather integrator comprising a thermostatic element and means to protect said thermostatic element from the weather and to modify the action of said thermostatic element due to the effect of radiant heat from the sun's rays, said means comprising a metal housing sufficiently thick to absorb radiant heat from the sunsrays and to retain a portion of the heat thus absorbed-which is proportional to the heating efiect of the sun's rays and to transfer said portion to said thermostatic element to modify the actionthereof so as to compensate for the efl'ect of sunlight and to dissipate the balance of the absorbed heat to the surrounding air.

2. A weather integrator comprising a thermostatic "element, a housing therefor adapted to protect said element from the weather, said housing being adapted to absorb radiant heat from,

the sun's rays for modifying the action of said thermostatic element, and wind-operated means for further modifying the action of said thermostatic element.

3. A weather integrator comprising a control mechanism, a thermostatic element adapted to actuate the same, a housing surrounding said thermostatic element and adapted to be exposed to sunlight. wind-pressure vane associated with said housing, and means actuated by said windpressure vane for modifying the action of said control means.

4. A weather integrator comprising a control mechanism, a thermostatic element adapted to actuate the same, a housing surrounding said thermostatic element and adapted to be exposed to sunlight, a wind-pressure vane associated with said housing, means actuated by said wind-pressure vane for modifying the action of said control means, and means to maintain said wind-pressure vane in operative position with respect to the direction of wind.

5. In combination, a thermostatic element, control means operated thereby, a support for said control means, and wind-actuated means for varying the position of said support. a

6. In combination, a thermostatic element, switch means operated thereby, contacts associated with said switch means, a support for said contacts, and wind-operated means for varying the position of said contacts with respect to said switch means.

'7. A weather integrator comprising reversing switch means and progressive switch means, thermostatic means to operate both of said switch means, and means responsive to wind-pressure adapted to modify the operation of said switch means.

8. A weather-responsive device comprising progressive control means, temperature-responsive means adapted to operate said progressive control means, and means responsive to wind-' pressure adapted to modify the operation of said progressive control means.

9. In combination, temperature-responsive means, and means responsive to wind velocity adapted to modify the operation of said first means.

10. A weather-responsive device comprising a temperature-responsive element, a support there-' for, means responsive to wind pressure adapted to modify the action of said temperature-responsive element, means for mounting said last means on said support for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, and. wind -operated means for maintaining said pressure-responsive means normal to the Wind direction.

11. A control device comprising a support, a housing pivotally mounted on said support for movement in a horizontal plane, a winci pressure vane pivotally mounted on said housing and adapted for limited pivotal movement proportional to the wind pressure thereon, and a direc tion vane associated with said housing adapted tomaintain said wind-pressure "rape normal to the oi. the wind.

12. A Weather-responsive device comprising thermostatic means, a housing for said means having an upwardiy extending member, a hearing carried. by said member, a wind-pressure vane rotatably supported by said bearing and adapted to modify the action of said thermostatic means in response to wind pressure, and a shield associated with said wind-pressure vane, said shield extending over said hearing and being adapted to protect the same from'the weather conditions.

13. A weather-responsive device comprising thermostatic means, control means operated thereby, a housing surrounding said thermostatic means, means for modifying the action of said control means comprising a plunger extending through said housing, and wind-operated means adapted to actuate said plunger, said wind-actucarrying said control means, and'wind-operated means adapted to vary the position 0! said pivoted plate. V

16. In combination, a thermostatic element, control means operated thereby, a pivoted plate carrying said control means, a housing surrounding said thermostatic element and said plate, a plunger adapted to control the position of said plate and extending through said housing, a wind-pressure vane, and means operated by said wind-pressure vane for actuating said plunger in response to variations in wind pressure.

17. In combination, a thermostatic element, control means operated thereby, a pivoted plate carrying said control means, a housing surrounding said thermostatic element and said plates. plunger adapted to control the position of said plate and extending through said housing, a windpressure vane pivotally mounted on said housing concentric with said plunger, and means operated said wind-pressure vane for actuating said plunger in response to variations in wind pres- 18. In combination, a thermostatic element, control means operated. thereby, a pivoted plate carrying said control means, a housing sm'rounding said thermostatic element and said plate, a plunger adapted to control the position of said plate and extending through said housing, a windpressure vane pivotally mounted on said housing concentric with said plunger, 9, direction vane adapted to maintain said wind-pressure vane in the path of thewind, means operatively interconnecting said wind-pressure vane and said plunger, and means to constrain said plunger for movement proportional to the added heat requirements caused by the wind.

19. In combination, temperature-responsive means, means responsive to wind velocity adapted 

